At least 59 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families have crossed the Rafah border from Gaza to Egypt.

They’ll only be allowed to stay in the country for a maximum of three-days.

It’s expected more than 400 connected to Canada would be able to cross in the coming days.

Ottawa’s expecting them to pay for their own flights back to Canada.

Israel’s defence minister says its soldiers were operating in the heart of Gaza City and that Hamas’s most senior leader was trapped in his bunker.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will have ”overall security responsibility” in Gaza ”for an indefinite period” after the war.

It’s his clearest sing yet that Israel intends to maintain control over the territory.